Cornet



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I

No Model.)

B. H. HITS,

CORNET.

Patented Oct. 15, 1889.

vW12 JVESSES y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. H. BITE.

CORNET.

Patented Oct. 15, 1889.

W12/'www5 l IME/V102 WM mi Q f' l I I .2l iorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT H. IIITE, OF MORGANTOIVN, IVEST VIRGINIA.

CORNET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,753, dated October 15, 1889.

Application led July 9, 1889. Serial No. 316,980. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT II. HITIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia, State of Test Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oornets and Similar Instruments, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to an improvement in cornets and similar instruments involving the use of valves to produce certain tones, and while it is particularly applicable to the cornet, and so described in this specification, it will be found that its essential features may be used successfully and profitably upon all instruments of a like nature.

The purpose of the invention is, first, to provide for the easier production of valvetones, so called; secondly, to produce an instrument which, having all the necessary effectiveness, shall be cheaper in construction and lighter and more convenient to handle, and, thirdly, to effect such an improvement in the valves proper as to adapt them to provide, with the crooks and valve-slides, whcther the valves be up or down, a uniform serpentine passage for the wind without any sudden bends, such as are found almost universally in instrument-s of a similar character heretofore produced.

My invention has for a further object improvements particularly applicable to the cornet hereinafter described.

To these ends my invention consists in a cornet or similar instrument the valves of which are made in horizontal section substantially of the outline of the sector of a circle provided with one curved aperture running from side to side parallel with the outer curve of the sector, and two curved apertures in line above the first named, each ruiming transversely through the valve-opening upon the curved rear part of the valve and the contiguous flaring side. Three such valves are usually provided and sustained in the casing, having a proper internal configuration to receive them, and having intermediate walls and the necessary perforations to aord communication from one valve to the other and from the respective valves to the respective crooks and valve-slides.

My invention further consists in so constructing the instrument that the various crooks and valve-slides shall open into the casing inclosing the valves in the same plane, usually horizontal, in such manner as to afford communication through the holes in the partition directly with the valve-holes of the adjoining valves, and not, as has heretofore been common, through interposed straight short tubes.

Uy invention further consists in details of construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a cornet constructed in accordance with my invention. 2 is a bottom plan View with the lower cap removed from the valve-shell. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the valves detached. Fig-t is a similar elevation viewed in the opposite direction.y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of the valve-shell removed with the valves introduced.

The arrangement of wind-passage, except as to the following modification, may be as usual, and the proper valve-crooks A B O employed for the usual purpose. Instead, however, as heretofore, of having the valves of cylindrical form, incased in cylindrical shells,communicating with each other through short straight tubes, and having the valvecrooks communicating with the separate shells, I provide the casing D, separated into compartments 'tt' t, internally sector-shaped, cachoompartment havin g the openings shown, and having intermediate partitions, which maybe permanent or adjustable, and are also perforated. The perforations throughout the shell and partitions are in the same horizontal plane.

The valve-casing D may be surmounted with tubes s, to receive the valve-stems, which latter are surrounded by a spring and otherwise constructed and operated in the usual manner. The valves are substantially sector-shaped in horizontal section, and arranged so that the inner flat sides of the las valves E and E shall be contiguous to the flat sides of the intermediate valve E', the curve of the latter being thus opposite to that of the two former. with the longitudinal curved passage r in its lower part, and above the latter with the two curved passages p, formed transversely through the valve, as shown. Y

It is apparent from the foregoing description that when, under the tension of the springs, the valves are in their uppermost position a continuous wave-like wind-passage exists through the series of valves from the crook q to the crook g', the valve-crooks A, B, and O being cut off from communication. Itis also apparent that if the middle valve alone is depressed acontinuous smooth windpassage exists from the crook q through the curved passage r in the valve E, through the passage p in the valve E into the valveslide C, thence through the curved passage r in the valve E and out into the crook q. If the valve E alone be depressed, it will be .apparent that a continuous passage is formed,

including the valve-crooks B. If the valve E be depressed, a continuous passage is produced including the valve-crooks A. If the valves E and E be depressed, a continuous passage will be formed including the valvecrooks A and B, and so on throughout the series.

It is to be noted as an important feature of my invention that whether none, either, any two, or all of the valves are down the windpassage through the instrument will present a continuous serpentine line, the curve being in no instance shorter than a simple return bend. The instrument is absolutely clearbore, and the tone is therefore better. The valve-tones, not involving any objectionably short curves, are approximatelyT as easy to produce as the open-tones.

Among the many advantages of my construction `may be mentioned the following: The valve-slides, being all at the bottom of the valves, produce a good hand-hold. The valves, being alike, are interchangeable. The stroke is as short as it is possible to make it on a piston-valve. The valves are necessarily lighter than those formerly made and present less wearing-surface than those heretofore made, and the action is therefore much lighter. Finally, it is to be observed that when any two adjacent valves are down, the wind, having passed out into the valve-slide of one valve, returning passes directly out into the valve-slide of the adjacent valvean operation not possible with any other form with which I am acquainted.

` In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a desirable construction of the middle valve-slide C for the purpose of. lengthening it, which consists in having the tube straight at o. lt is clear that this feature is capable of alteration. The valves may be removed from the shell D by providing a cap n at the lower end of Each valve is providedthe latter, Fig. l, and screw-jointing the valve-stem, as shown in Fig. 3. Instead of this construction the sector shape of the valve-chamber may be continued to the top of the tubes s, the caps being applied thereto and sustained with'thumb-screws. Such details of construction, as well as the adaptation of the essential parts of the invention hereinafter claimed to instruments of various kinds, are matters "Within the province of the skilled mechanic, and my invention is not limited thereto.

I have shown and described the valves as sector-shaped in horizontal section, and I find that the near approach to this outline stem is secured at a point close to the apex of the sector, and the three stems are therefore closer together, oering a more convenient arrangement of the valve-buttons to receive the lingers in playing. It is to be noted,- however, that my invent-ion is not limited to a strict conformity with the description in this regard, as it is apparent presents important advantages. The valve` IOO ments, having a longitudinal curved aperture IIO ture to provide a continuous curved passage for the wind in producing all tones, substantially as described.

4. A cornet or similar instrument having all its valve-shell openings in the same plane and communicating with the crooks, as de- I scribed. v

5. A cornet or similar instrument having a valve-shell with apertures in the same horizontal plane, valve slides communicating with the apertures in the manner described, and valves within the valve-shell provided with the longitudinal and transverse curved passages described, affording communication, as set forth. l

6. A cornet or similar instrument comprisn sages in two horizont-al planes, and valveslides in the same horizontal plane Communieating with the curved passages in the Valves through the perfoia-tions in the shell, all as sei4 fort-l1.

7. In a Cornet or similar instrument, substa-ntially sector* shaped Valves and Valvesteins joined to the valves near their apexes, as described.

BERT H. HITE.

In presence 0i` E. SHISLER, "W. T. KERN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 412,753, granted October 15, 1889, upon the application of Bert H. Hite, of Morgantown, West Virginia, for an improve meut in C0rnets,7 errors appear in the printed speeieation requiring correction, as follows: 1n line 42, page l, the Word valve-opening 7 should read valve, opening in lines 25 and 27|7 page 27 the Word Valve-crooks should read valve-crook; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of] the oase in the Patent Office. I

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 22d day of October, A. D. 1889.

[SEAL] oYnUs BUssnr,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned C. E. MITCHELL,

Commissioner of Patents.

ons ,mieu-'er- Patent No.A4 412,753.

n., o :D L.. S- o It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 412,753, granted October 15, 188 upon the application of Bert H. Hite, of Morgantown, West Virginia, for an improv ment in Oornets, errors appear in the printed specification requiring;` correction, z

follows: lIn line 42, page l, the Word valve-opening 7 should read valve, opening lines 25 and 27', page 2, the Word Valve-crooks should read @aloe-crook; and th the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the san may conform to the record of, the case inthe Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 22dday of October,- A. D. 1889.

cYRUs BUssnY, Ass/stemt Secretary of the Interior.

[SEAL] Oountersigned fC. E.` MITCHELL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

